Sugarcane harvesting to be taken up in 23 villages where leopard sightings are frequent in T. Narsipur

MYSURU

The Forest Department has sought sugarcane harvesting on a priority basis in 23 villages of T. Narsipur taluk in Mysuru district affected by the presence of leopards.

Deputy Commissioner K.V.Rajendra has been apprised of the imperatives of such a move as the vast swathe of agricultural tracts in T.Narsipur constitutes sugarcane fields that are suitable for leopards to breed and thrive.

The decision follows the killing of two students by leopards in a span of 30 days in the taluk following which a massive combing operation has been launched and 120 Forest Department personnel are part of the exercise.  

Chief Conservator of Forests (Mysuru Circle) Malathi Priya said that they have mapped 23 villages in the taluk where the frequency of leopard sighting was the highest. This includes the two villages -Kebbehundi and M.L.Hundi – which are 12 km apart and where the two human deaths have been reported.

Ms.Malathi Priya said leopards have adapted to survive in sugarcane fields and the onset of winter, being the breeding season, was also when the leopards tend to venture out and thus are increasingly coming into conflict situation.

‘’Once the fields are harvested and cleared it will eliminate the possibility of leopards finding refuge there and reduce conflict’’, she added.

Meanwhile, 120 Forest Department staff including the Special Tiger Force from Bandipur are camping in and around Kebbehundi where the latest human killing took place on Thursday. ‘’We have placed cages at 16 places and also installed 20 camera traps but so far the leopards have proved to be elusive and their images have not been captured’’, said Ms. Malathi Priya.